Cláudia Costa Santos
Eduarda Silva
Eurico Castro Alves
Consultant of WiseHS
He studied medicine at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Oporto, specialising in General Surgery, and then management, before completing his training in the USA. Secretary of State for Health and chairman of Infarmed are just some of the posts he has held, while, among other roles, he is currently director of the Surgery Department at the Centro Hospitalar do Porto. He recently chaired the organising committee of the National Health Convention, an unprecedented debate involving every player within the health sector, which «far exceeded all expectations».
You presided over the organising committee of the National Health Convention. What stood behind this initiative and what were its goals?
About a year ago the Portuguese President laid down a challenge to the country. In fact, it was the President who sparked off a series of intentions that had long been stirring the conscience of a group of civil society, and which ultimately served as a stimulus to this initiative. The intention was to reach consensus in certain areas that would help political power in the difficult task and incessant quest for solutions that lie ahead, introducing the ideas and opinions of those who serve this cause daily.
How do you think the convention went?
I think it went way beyond all expectations. It brought a significant number of notable people to the debate, from about 90 institutions, from the most respected areas of health. My belief is that, after this forum, the conditions will exist for a Health Pact and that it will be possible to find and give more value to what unites, rather than to what separates the various players.
«My belief is that, after this forum, the conditions will exist for a Health Pact»
You were Secretary of State for Health. Just how "healthy” is Portugal’s NHS?
It is important for us to have the humility to assume that, despite the difficulties, when compared to most of the world’s health systems, we can say that the Portuguese have access to a good health service. By this we cannot say that everything is okay! In all truthfulness, it should be noted that the basic problems are for the most part structural. Institutions, like people, have to reinvent themselves and rethink every day, thus ensuring their potential for adaptability. The NHS also has to be a system that permanently reforms itself! We have access to the best and best prepared of everything at the best level, of anything happening in the world, and we want to continue this way, while not forgetting the sustainability of the system.
What role do you play at Wise HS and what is this innovative project?
I am very pleased to participate in this exhilarating new project for which I contribute part-time as a senior consultant. WiseHS is a modern and futuristic service concept, which is very enterprising and which aims to provide consultancy services in the field of health care, with respect to both people and companies. In this area I would highlight a very necessary and important concept for patients and their families, Concierge Saúde, which provides excellent support for guidance in the case of serious illnesses.
